THE ELECTIONS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 151, 24 January 1868, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS.

MR. SMITH'S MEETING. Last evening Mr Smith addressed the electors of Westport at Trimble's Nelson Hotel. The room was crowded, and Mr Munro was voted to the chair. The Chairman said that he agreed to occupy the chair, because he thought that some candidate of standing should be brought forward, and after the specimens that had been before them he thought it was time they should have something fresh, and when he heard that Mr Smith had determined to stand, he felt glad to occupy the chair. His duties were very simple, and that was only to maintain order. They should catechise the candidate well after he had made his speech, and see if he was satisfactory, and in that case support him.

Mr Smith, who was received with cheers, said that after the very handsome requisition thathad been presented to him to come forward as a candidate he felt he had no alternative but to comply with it. He did not come before them from, any motives of ambition, but from a desire to represent them honestly and independently in the Nelson Provincial Council. He would not detain them very long, but would point out a few things that affected the local

wants of the district. A great deal had been said about tracks and tramways. He was in favor of tracks being cut to districts as soon as there was a probability of a population being settled. He considered that Government was not warranted in making tramway* B , or to interfere with the matter. The making of tramways should be left to private enterprise, and the Government should in that case guarantee a certain amount of land He considered that one of the first thiugs in the way of track-making should be to finish the track up the Buller River, which would open up that district, for he had been told by men who had prospected that country, that if the track was finished it would open up an auriferous district comprising over 100,000 acres that would pay wages at all events. The track was commenced about six years ago in order to connect Westport with Nelson. As it was finished, it fell into neglect, and about two years since men were sent from Nelson to complete it, but about a month ago they were withdrawn. If the Government had let the work out to be done by contract, it would have long since been finished. A vote of £4OOO had been past in the Provincial Council for the purpose of building a bridge across the Buller at its junction with the Lyle —a very dangerous place for boats to cross, and this should be proceeded with. But the idea of the Government laying down a tramway up to the Lyle, was simply preposterous, as it would take the whole revenue of the province for a year to do it. He would support the formation of a tramway to Charleston and Addison's Flat, and would do all that he could to forward the interest of any company who would embark in the undertaking. Another track to the Caledonian Terrace was much required, as at present it was the main support of Westport. If it should happen that the track was not made before the meeting of the Provincial Council, in the event of his being returned, he would pledge himself to place a motion on the table that the Commissioner should proceed with the formation of the track at once. Some interest had been felt in the formation of the Nelson, Westport and Cobden Railway, and he was aware that many different opinions existed on the subject. He was in favour of the Nelson and Westport Railway being proceeded with on the principle laid down that English capital be brought into the province for its formation, and that the Government give 10,000 acres of land for every mile of railway constructed. The opening up of this railway would be the means of supplying miners and others with provisions at a cheap rate and allow people to settle on the land; but he should decidedly oppose a guarantee of eight per cent, on the money expended, as in the event of its not paying, the province would be saddled with a debt of £160,000 a year. The Provincial Council voted in the last sitting a sum of £ISOO to be expended in wharfage accommodation in Westport. It should have been =£15,000 considering the revenue derived from Westport. It was not treating them with any consideration at all to vote such a sum as £ISOO, His opponent, Mr Crate, had alluded to the sum of £7OOO as being likely to effect the contemplated object, but he would like to see £IO,OOO expended. If elected, he would press upon the Provincial Council the necessity of having proper wharfage accommodation commenced at once. The next subject of interest was the Coal and Customs' Reserve. Mr Crate had said that he would charge a rental of 30s per foot per annum. He would rather feel inclined to let the present occupiers purchase the lease of the land, say, for a term of fourteen years. They could not purchase the freehold of the land, as it belonged to the General Government, who would not sell it, and the money thus raised should be expended in repairing and embanking the river. He would not enter on the question of politics, as that was left to the Upper House. The Provincial Council had nothing to do with politics. The question of agricultural leases had occupied the attention of various Councils for years, and it was a difficult subject to deal with. There was a large tract of country which would pay to bring under cultivation. The ne\t subject was that of the Coalfields, which were the finest in the Southern Hemisphere, and was a mine of wealth hv itself. The Nelson Province alone paid a sum of £75',000 a-year for coals. If this source of wealth was developed it would make Westport equal to Newcastle, or any of the Victorian ports. He should now conclude, and would be happy to answer any questions that might be put to him. If he was elected he would represent them

honourably and honestly, and with the feelings of a Britisher. * (Cheers). Mr Caahmore asked Mr Smith if he would support a motion in favour of granting agricultural interests. Mr Smith replied in the affirmative. An elector asked some questions respecting Mokihinui. Mr Smith said he was in favor of a track being cut up the Mokihinui Kiver to the Lyle Creek, as ho had been assured that there was a large extent of auriferous land in that direction.

Mr Williams asked if the candidate was in favor of the reduction of wharfage rates ? Mr Smith replied that he did not think the rates wore higher in Westport than in Nelson, with this difference, the rates were levied on the shipping instead of on the merchants. He did not think the present charges exorbitant, especially if the Government would spend £IO,OOO or £12,000 in wharfage accommodation. Mr Ellis.—Would you call the attention of the Council to the state of the revenue ?

Mr Smith.—l will pledge myself to bring it before the Government. A miner asked if he was in favor of mining boards ?

Mr Smith stated he was; as he considered that they would work better than "Wardens, and that he thought the members of them should be paid. In reply to various questions, Mr Smith stated that he was not in favour of municipalities. He was in favour of more ground being granted to a wet claim than a dry one. He was not in favour of half-yearly miners' rights, but was in favour of the license being reduced to 10s. Was not in favour of doing away with Provincial Councils, though he thought them expensive; but if the islands were separated he would be in favour of the abolition of Provincial Councils. He would not pledge himself to support a sum of money being placed on the estimates for the purpose of rewarding gold discoveries. Was not in favor of miners' rights being general. Mr. Neil proposed, and Dr. Rockstrow seconded, that Mr. J. V. Smith was a fit and proper person to represent the district in the Nelson Provincial Council.

The motion having been put it was carried without a dissentient, and the meeting broke up after a vote of thanks to the chairman.